Australian Open 2010: Ana Ivanovic happy with game despite second round exit

Ana Ivanovic has said she is playing better now than two years ago - after
crashing out of the Australian Open in the second round.

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Early exit: Ana Ivanovic suffered a second round exit at the Australian OpenPhoto: REUTERS

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Serb and volleyed: the 2008 finalist from Serbia was defeated by Argentine Gisela DulkoPhoto: REUTERS

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Pretty handy: Dulko, who knocked Maria Sharapova out of last year's Wimbledon championships, added Ivanovic to her list of conquestsPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff

8:17AM GMT 21 Jan 2010

The former world No 1 in 2008, who has slipped to No 21, made the final at the Australian Open two years ago but suffered an early exit to Argentine Gisela Dulko losing 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4.

"I think I'm striking the ball better now than I did in 2008 or any previous years," the 22 year-old said.

"Also, you know, my movement is getting there. It's just that expectation that sometimes I put on myself, and it's very overwhelming. I use so much energy," she said. "And then when it counts the most, I'm behind. So I just have to find that balance."

The Serbian was a rising star in 2007, runner-up at the French Open and reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

After losing the 2008 Australian Open final to Maria Sharapova, she made her Grand Slam breakthrough by winning the French Open, confirming her talent and enhancing glamorous image.

Ivanovic hasn't made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam since her Roland Garros triumph in '08 and did not win a tournament at all in 2009.

Venus Williams, however, had no such problems as she powered her way into the third round with a straightforward 6-2, 7-5 win over Austrian Sybille Bammer.

Bammer tried hard throughout and broke Williams' serve twice in the second set, but the sixth seed was never really theatened by the left-handed Austrian as she wrapped up a comfortable win in 97 minutes.

Bammer's game plan seemed to be to try and get the ball back into play as much as possible and wait for her opponent to make a mistake, and this tactic worked on occasions as Williams hit 25 unforced errors over two sets.

But Williams also blasted 32 winners - including seven aces - to Bammer's four to underline her superiority.